Portable fire-shield.



D. W. ADAM3.

PORTABLE FIRE SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.24, 1910.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

. DANIEL W. ADAMS, OF GLENDALE S P RINGS, NORTH CAROLINA.

PORTABLE FIRE-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 24. 1910. Serial No. 599,128.

' State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire- Shields, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-shields for the protection of the personwhen working in proximity to a fire. It is especially intended for use by forest rangers when combating forest fires at short range, as when operating the hose of a chemical or other fire-extinguisher carried upon the back or upon a horse or truck.

The object of my invention is to provide a fire-shield which can be carried in the hand to protect the head and body of the person from excessive heat, while permitting the fireman to see the fire and direct his method of attack, and which may be folded for convenience in carrying or separated into sections for transportation.

The invention will be understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fireshield embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the sections folded; and Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the parts in normal or extended position.

Fire-shields have been provided heretofore which can be stationed at some convenient place near a fire and behind which the firemen could direct the hose, while at the same time observing the effect upon the fire, yet in so far as I am aware there has never been devised, prior to my invention, a body shield to be easily carried in the hand of the fireman and which could be folded into compact form when not in use.

The many advantages of my device will be appreciated by those who have had experience in fighting fires and especially by those who have had to combat forest fires where it is absolutely necessary to get within very short range of the flames and Where one is very liable to be subjected to excessive heat and accidental burns.

I preferably construct the body of the shield 2, of sheet metal, such as 20-gage tin, and cover this on the front or outer side with sheet asbestos 3, securely held in place by tongues 5, projecting from the metal back plate and bent or lapped over the edges of the asbestos. A window or sight-opening in the upper part of the shield, covered with a sheet of mica 6, held in position by lapping the tin and asbestos, enables the fireman to see the fire and direct the operation of the extinguisher. I provide a convenient handhold which comprises coiled spring wires 7, 8, pivoted at their ends 9, 10, respectively, and provided with hooks 12, 13, adapted to secure their other ends in position.

It is desirable that the shield should be made very compact when not in use, for convenience in transportation. Accordingly, I construct the shield in two sections which are hinged along a central, horizontal line, the sections being provided with interfitting hinge members 15, 16, to receive a hinge-rod or pintle 18, which is provided upon one end with a thumb-piece 19 and is threaded at the other end to screw into a tap or nut 20, secured to one of the sections.

The hinge members permit the sections to be folded forwardly to bring the front faces of the shield together in the manner shown in Fig. 3, but prevent any flexure in the rearward direction. When the hand-hold memfers 7, 8, are hooked into operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shield will be maintained in the extended position.

It is apparent that the pintle rod 18 may be readily loosened and removed to permit the sections of the shield to be entirely separated. This is especially desirable in the forestry service, where the fire-fighting apparatus must usually be transported upon horses. When the shield has been taken apart in the manner described, the sections may be fastened under the saddle housing upon either side.

The operation of my fire-shield will be understood from the foregoing description.

While I have described in detail the particular construction illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of disclosing one embodiment of my invention, I am aware that changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof orfrom the scope of my claims, which are 1. A portable fire-shield adapted to be supported by the arm of the operator, comprising separable sections provided with interfitting hinge-members, a pintle-rod engaging said hinge-members and detachable therefrom, and a hand-hold device adapted Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

to engage the sections on a median line therof and hold them in extended position.

2. A portable fire-shield adapted to be supported by the arm of the operator, comprising separable sections provided with hinge-members, and a pintle-rod detachably engaging said hinge-members, each of said sections having a sheet metal back-plate and a facing of non-inflammable non-conducting material, and integral tongues projecting from the back-plate and bent over the edge of the casing material, and a hand-hold adapted to engage the sections and hold them in extended position.

3. A portable fire-shield adapted to be supported by the arm of the operator, comprising separable sections provided With hinge-members, a pintle-rod detachably en gaging said hinge-members, each of said sections having a sheet metal back-plate and a facing of non-infiammable non-conducting material, a sight-opening in one of said sections, and a detachable hand-hold adapted to engage the sections on a median line thereof and maintain them in extended position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses;

DANIEL W. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

R. F. GRovER, T. B. LONGWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

